Thanks for volunteering for this work party! All our work parties
have three rules: safety first, fun second and work third. The work can be
hard so we encourage everyone to work at his or her own pace. If you have
any questions please call our office at 206/625-1367. We want you to have
a good time and experience first hand what it takes to keep trails in good
shape. If you have questions about what we're doing during the work party,
about trails in general or about specific trails, please ask your crew
leaders. Let us know how you found out about the work party, and anything
we can do to make it more fun. We want you to come back!

Overnighter: Since this is one of our overnight trips, all
are invited to stay with us on Saturday night and enjoy a potluck BBQ.
We will provide hamburgers, veggie burgers, condiments and
soda pop. Please bring along a side dish to share. If you are
staying for the night, you will need to bring a tent, sleeping bag and
your personal gear. Unless otherwise indicated, breakfast will not be
provided.

Campsite: Saturday night's camp: we will be at Fisher Hill camp, a WDFW site on the Klickitat River. It is located just off State Route 142 NE of Lyle right on the Klickitat River at MP 5. DIRECTIONS: From Coyote Wall - head east on Hwy 14 towards Lyle. Just before town, cross the Klickitat River and turn left on State Route 142. Go approximately 5 miles to the campground on your left. There is a pit toilet and stone fire rings, but no other amenities. Bring a supply of potable water or if you prefer you can bring a filter to purify water form the river. This site requires a Discover Pass. Day Passes ()or Annual Passes () are sold at the local market in Lyle.

Trail Facts: If you arenít familiar with the Burdoin Mountain - Coyote Wall - Catherine Creek areas, youíve thus far missed out on experiencing one of the Gorgeís truly unique treasures. Situated just upstream from White Salmon on the Columbia River, these adjacent areas feature rugged cliffs, Oregon white oak woodlands, wide open meadows and sweeping views of the Gorge that rival any other around. The unique soils and climate have created some very special plant communities that include many endemic and rare wildflowers that deliver a spectacular succession of colorful displays. And with unique plant communities come unique species of animals that are equally as rare as the plants they rely upon for habitat. In 2011 the Forest Service made official its recreation plan for the area following a highly contentious planning process. In a nutshell, the plan seeks to convert a proliferation of unofficial, user-created routes into a system of trails that reduce trail user conflicts, end trespass on adjacent private property and protect one of the most botanically unique landscapes in the region. With support from a generous National Forest Foundation grant, WTA is working with other trail user groups to redevelop the trail system in accordance with the recreation plan.

Directions: From Portland and Vancouver, travel east on I-84 to Exit 64/Hood River. Cross the Hood River Bridge ( toll) to Washington's Highway SR-14, turn right/east. Follow Hwy 14 east for 1.5 miles to Bingen, WA. Continue past Bingen for 3.2 miles. Turn left at Courtney Road and park in the small, unsigned gravel parking lot on the left right near the jct of Hwy 14 and Courtney Road.

We want this to be a rewarding and fun event, so please read the following information carefully.

All volunteers MUST be wearing:

Work gloves

Long pants

Adequate boots for foot protection

A day pack to carry your personal gear

In addition, we RECOMMEND:

Eye protection (such as glasses, sunglasses, or safety glasses)

Long-sleeved shirt

Please BRING:

Lunch

Plenty of water

Rain gear / Cold-weather gear

We cannot allow anyone to work in sneakers or shorts. You will be turned away if you do not have the required work gear. All volunteers will also be required to wear a hard-hat (provided by WTA) while working.

If you are under 18, you must have a Signed Parental Consent form with you. Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult.

The Day on Trail

WTA crew leaders will meet you at the above-stated start time. We hope by investing our time in teaching you trail maintenance you'll come back and join us again. Our work party rules are followed in this order: 1) Be Safe! 2) Have fun! 3) Get some work done! -- and are outlined below in more detail:

Safety!

The emphasis is always safety first. Upon arrival, you will sign a WTA liability release. The crew leaders will give a safety talk and discuss specific plans for the day. Please be on time, as we can allow you to work only after you have heard our entire safety briefing, signed in, and have the appropriate work gear.

Fun!

Second only to safety, WTA wants your time on trail to be enjoyable. Our crew leaders are there to facilitate your fun - so if you aren't having fun, please let them know! At the end of the day we will take pride in our accomplishments as we return to the trailhead. We will have refreshments and light snacks while preparing for the trip home. To read about the other fun perks and incentives of volunteering, please go here.

Work!

In addition to the safety talk, WTA will provide the necessary tools, hard hats, and training to get the job done. We'll head up the trail promptly after the safety talk and crew leaders will acquaint you with the tasks at hand. Volunteers are urged throughout the day to take breaks whenever they want. We generally stop for a 30-minute lunch around noon. At the end of the day we'll collect the tools, head back down to the trailhead and have a wrap-up of the day's work. Every effort is made to ensure that all volunteers can depart from the trailhead at the designated end time, generally no later than 3:30pm on a day trip.

Questions? Please call us at 206/625-1367 if you have any questions!

Thanks again for signing up. We're looking forward to seeing you out on the trail!